Copying machine

ABSTRACT

A copying machine in which a light-sensitive intermediate sheet and an original document are fed into intimate copying contact with the leading edge of the intermediate sheet extending beyond the leading edge of the original document. A semi-reflecting surface is positioned between a light source and a supporting surface and cooperates with the light source and the supporting surface for reflex exposure of the intermediate sheet and the original document. The semi-reflecting surface is formed to cooperate with the supporting surface to transport the original document and the intermediate sheet in intimate contact therewith between said surfaces upon relative movement between the supporting surface and the semi-reflecting surface.

[15] 3,685,908 51 Aug. 22, 1972 United States Patent OMara 3,580,6775/1971 Seelenbinder.........355/l08 X [54] COPYING MACHINE l [72] mentord A o Mara Maplewood Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews AssistantExaminer-Alan A. Mathews [73] Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufactur-Attorney-Kinney, Alexander, Sell, Steldt & Delahunt Saint Paul, Minn.

ing Company,

June 18, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT A copying machine in which a light-sensitiveintermediate sheet and an original document are fed into [22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.2 47,462

intimate copying contact with the leading edge of the M5 6 l/O /7 52 5 575 3 03 l 2 n mm m m "7 H m 5 3 "H m5 5 "m m m l 0 W d UIF 1 2 00 555[ll 5 References Cited mediate sheet and the original document. Thesemireflecting surface is formed to cooperate with the sup- UNITEDSTATES PATENTS porting surface to transport the original document and mm.1 w e mfl fee eVr. hoL. m C S we nwm m om Ci a 6 e m a g m m .1 m .I Ma m mm 2, w i h n Sum m S l m D. C u d 9 m m e m m r a emmin .m ww 'mfltbb.m X7777 4000 2 111 l6/// /9555 5 555 5 333 m m mm 1m nut u u a Q j mw mm c 6 m am .mo.mmm LRLSF 39640 65666. 99999 11111 3056 I 7 673 77910029 000532 32332 P'A'TENTEDms 22 I972 COPYING MACHINE The presentinvention relates to a copying machine having exposure means for reflexexposure of a lightsensitive intermediate sheet material and an originaldocument.

In reflex exposure copying machines a light-sensitive intermediate sheetis first completely desensitized at background areas by exposure inreflex position, i.e., by light passing through the sheet to the printedoriginal held in contact therewith. The sheet is only partiallydesensitized at areas corresponding to the radiation-absorptive imageareas of the original. Heating the thus exposed sheet in face-to-facecontact with a suitably coated copy-sheet then produces on the latter avisible reproduction of the image areas by interreaction between theresidual sensitizing component of the exposed sheet and thereactant-containing surface of the copy-sheet. Such machines are ofrecent origin in the art and the copying machine of US. Pat. No.3,318,219 is illustrative.

To increase the differential desensitization of the intermediate sheetit has been found advantageous to provide a semi-reflecting surfacebetween the light source and the intermediate sheet in intimate contactwith the intermediate sheet as illustrated in US. Pat. No. 2,908,571.Light rays that pass through the semireflecting surface and theintermediate sheet and are reflected from the white background areas ofthe original document are again reflected when they strike thesemi-reflecting surface thereby intensifying the quantity of light thatstrikes the areas of the intermediate corresponding to the unimagedareas of the original document. The chemical process in these areas isthus intensified to increase the differential desensitization andthereby to increase the contrast in the copy-sheet. Reflex copyingmachines utilizing such a semi-reflecting surface have generallyprovided it as an integral part of the supporting surface below whichthe light source is positioned and above which means are provided forpressing the intermediate sheet in an original document into intimatecontact with each other and with the supporting surface.

In the copying machine of the present invention a semi-reflectingsurface is provided between a light source and a supporting surface toincrease the differential desensitization of the intermediate sheet andit is formed to cooperate with the supporting surface to transport anoriginal document and an intermediate sheet in intimate contacttherewith into reflex exposure position between the semi-reflectingsurface and the support surface upon relative movement between thesurfaces. The intermediate sheet and the original document are fed intointimate contact with the leading edge of the intermediate sheetextending beyond the leading edge of the original document to aid infeeding original documents of varying weights and surface proparties andto facilitate separation of an original document from an intermediatesheet after exposure.

A copying machine according to the present invention is provided withexposure means for reflex exposure of a light-sensitive intermediatesheet material and an original document including a light source and asupporting surface. A feed is provided for transporting an originaldocument and an intermediate sheet in intimate contact therewith intoposition for reflex exposure with the original document contacting thesupporting surface and the intermediate sheet between the originaldocument and the light source and with the leading edge of theintermediate sheet extending beyond the leading edge of the originaldocument. The feed includes a semi-reflecting surface between the lightsource and the supporting surface formed to cooperate with thesupporting surface to transport an original document and an intermediatesheet in intimate contact therewith between the semi-reflecting surfaceand the supporting surface upon relative movement between the surfaces.

The novel features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent after reading the following description which refers to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal elevation view of a copying machine made inaccordance with the present invention with parts thereof in section; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the transport of anintermediate sheet and an original document.

Referring now to the drawing there is illustrated a reflex copyingmachine, generally designated 10, constructed in accordance with thepresent invention. The machine includes a cabinet 12 providing anenclosure for the working elements of the machine 10.

An exposure drum 14 is rotatably supported generally centrally of themachine 10. Its exterior peripheral surface provides a support surfacefor an intermediate sheet and an original document 15 in intimatecontact therewith during exposure and it is preferably covered with awhite reflective unpolished material. A drive (not shown) is providedfor continuously rotating the exposure drum l4 (clockwise as viewed inthe drawing) when the machine 10 is in operation. Unless otherwise notedthe remaining illustrated elements are generally symmetrical from aplane perpendicular to the axis of the exposure drum 14 and bisectingthe exposure drum.

An elongated cylindrical exposure lamp 16 is supported externally of theexposure drum 14 with its axis parallel to the axis of the drum and anelliptical reflector 18 is provided to illuminate a predeterminedarcuate extent of the exposure drum surface. The reflector 18 islouvered and an air duct is provided to a fan 20 which draws air fromaround the lamp and expells it from the machine 10 to provide a coolingof the area surrounding the lamp 16.

A semi-reflecting surface 22 between the lamp 16 and the support surfaceof the exposure drum 14 is provided by a flexible semi-reflecting sheetsupported to conform to the illuminated predetermined extent of thesupport surface of the exposure drum 14. The semireflecting sheet 22 isnormally rectangular and has a width corresponding to the length of theexposure drum 14. Its ends are retained in clamps 24 and 25, one of theclamps 25 being stationarily supported in the machine and the otherclamp 24 being biased by a spring 26 at each of its ends to produce aresilient pressure between the semi-reflecting sheet 22 and the supportsurface of the exposure drum 14, which pressure is uniform along thelength of the exposure drum 14. To provide the proper contact betweenthe semi-reflecting sheet 22 and the exposure drum 14 the sheet 22 issupported between its ends by three stationary rods 28, 29

and 30 with heir axes parallel to the axis of the exposure drum 14. Tomove an intermediate sheet and an original document in intimate contacttherewith between the semi-reflecting sheet 22 and the support surfaceof the exposure drum 14 it is necessary that the frictional forcesbetween the intermediate sheet material 34 and the semi-reflecting sheet22 be significantly less than the frictional forces between the leadingedge of the intermediate sheet material 34 and the support surface ofthe exposure drum 14. The frictional force between the leading edge ofthe intermediate sheet and the support surface is significant becausethe leading edge of the intermediate sheet extends beyond the leadingedge of the original document to aid in pulling the original documentbetween the semi-reflecting sheet 22 and the exposure drum 14 (see FIG.2). With this arrangement original documents having widely varyingweights and surface properties can be properly fed for copying. A roughsurfaced white paper may be used as the support surface of the exposuredrum 14. A suitable material for the semi-reflecting surface 22 is thena polyester film filled with a white pigment to have a lighttransmissivity in the range of -70 percent and preferably having atransmissivity of about 60 percent.

At the front of the machine and within the cabinet 12 a support 32 isprovided for a supply roll of the lightsensitive intermediate sheetmaterial 34. Below the support 32 a pair of nip rollers 36 and 37 aresupported and are appropriately driven to feed the free end of theintermediate sheet material 34 from the supply roll onto an inclinedguide 39. A knife 41 is supported to one side of the intermediate guide39 and it is moved by solenoids (not shown) to sever the intermediatesupply strip after a desired length intermediate sheet has been fed pastthe knife 41 by the intermediate feed rollers 36 and 37.

A horizontal original document guide 43 extends from the front of themachine to a position adjacent the exposure drum 14 where it is alsoadjacent the intermediate guide 39. A gate 45 at the front of themachine above the guide 43 normally blocks the original document pathonto the guide 43 and an electromagnet 47 is supported above the gate 45to lift the gate upon activation of the electromagnet 47. A pair of feedrollers 49 and 50 are positioned one to each side of the document pathalong the guide 43 to provide an original document feed to the exposuredrum 14. An insertion roller 52 is supported above the original guide 43between the gate 45 and the document feed rollers 49 and 50 and it iscontinuously driven when the machine is in operation to provideinsertion of an original document to the feed rollers 49 and 50.

The original document feed path from the original feed rollers 49 and 50to the juncture of the original document and intermediate guide paths ismade slightly longer than the intermediate guide paths from the knife 41to that juncture. The intermediate feed rollers 36 and 37 are driven atthe same time and at the same peripheral velocity as the originaldocument feed rollers 49 and 50 preferably by the same drive so that theleading edge of the intermediate sheet will arrive at the juncture ofthe intermediate and original guide paths before the original documentand lead the original document throughout exposure. An idler roller 54is supported adjacent the juncture of the intermediate and originaldocument guide paths and contacts the exposure drum 14 to feed anintermediate sheet and an original document in intimate contacttherewith from their juncture to the contact between the exposure druml4 and the semi-reflecting sheet 22.

The first separator knife 56 is supported at the end of a pivotal arm 57to normally direct sheets exiting from between the semi-reflectingsurface 22 and the exposure drum 14 between a pair of horizontaloriginal exit guides 60 and 61. A solenoid 58 is connected to thepivotal arm 57 and upon actuation draws the separator knife 56 towardthe exposure drum 14 into the path of the sheets leaving the exposurearea. Actuation of the solenoid 58 is suitably timed with relation tothe feed of the intermediate sheet and the original document 15 so thatthe separator knife 56 is moved toward the exposure drum 14 as theleading edge of an intermediate sheet approaches it and it isdeactivated to move the separator knife 56 away from the exposure drum14 prior to the leading edge of the original document reaching theseparator knife 56. Thus, the separator knife 56 will divert theintermediate sheet generally vertically downward by engaging the leadingedge thereof and it will move across the document path before theoriginal document 15 reaches it so that it will guide the originaldocument between the original document exit guides 60 and 61 toward thefront of the machine 10.

A pair of continuously driven intermediate feed rollers 63 and 64 arepositioned to feed an intermediate sheet diverted by the separator knife56 generally vertically downward. A stationary inclined guide 66cooperates with an endless belt 67 extending around intermediate feedroller 64 and two other feed rollers 70 and 73 to guide a divertedintermediate sheet to a juncture with an upwardly inclined receptorsheet guide 68. The endless belt 67 may be defined by a plurality of 0-rings running in grooves in the rollers 64, 70 and 73 and spaced alongthe lengths of the rollers to provide a guide surface for the sheets.

A tray 77 is provided for supporting a stack of receptor sheets 76 andincludes a base wall 79 that is pivoted adjacent the front of themachine 10 and an end wall 80 that is slidable with respect to the basewall 79 to abut one end of a stack of receptor sheets 76 supported onthe base wall 79. The base wall 79 of the tray 77 is spring biased toengage the uppermost receptor sheet of the stack with a receptor sheetfeed wheel 82 positioned above the end of the tray adjacent the receptorsheet guide 68. A stationary vertical wall 84 is posi tioned between thefeed wheel 82 and the receptor sheet guide 68 to abut the end of thestack of receptor sheets 76. Formed with the vertical wall 84 arehorizontal tabs 85, one at each edge of the tray, that overhang theopposed edges of the stack of receptor sheets 76. The horizontal tabs 85aid in single feeding the receptor sheets 76 by causing the uppermostsheet to buckle between the tabs 85 and separate from the remainingsheets in the stack upon movement thereof by the feed wheel 82. Thereceptor sheet feed wheel 82 is driven through a single turn clutch (notshown) in timed relation with the movement of the first separator knife56 to single feed the uppermost sheet in the stack of receptor sheetsalong the receptor guide 68 such that the leading edge of the receptorsheet reaches the juncture of the intermediate sheet guide path and thereceptor sheet guide path slightly behind the leading edge of theintermediate sheet to align the receptor sheet with the latent imagecontained on the intermediate sheet.

To determine the length of the intermediate supply strip fed prior toseverance by the knife 41 the slidable end wall 80 of the receptor sheettray 77 may be coupled to appropriate electrical circuitry such thatwhen it is moved against the end of a stack of receptor sheets 76selected circuitry will be activated to feed a length of intermediatesheet slightly longer than the receptor sheet 76 in the tray 77. Thus,by appropriate choice of the length of receptor sheets 76 correspondingto the length of the original document to be copied the length of theintermediate sheet 34 which is fed is also determined. Alternatively, adial on the front of the machine may be provided to select theappropriate length of intermediate sheet 34 which is fed prior toseverance.

Adjacent the juncture of the intermediate guide path and the receptorsheet guide path a roller 71 forms with roller 70 areceptor-intermediate feed to feed the exposed intermediate sheet andthe receptor sheet in intimate contact therewith along an upwardlyinclined path with the leading edge of the intermediate sheet leadingthe corresponding edge of the receptor sheet. A further roller 74cooperates with a feed roller 73 to provide a second portion of thereceptor-intermediate feed to a heat developer 88. A plurality ofO-rings 75 spaced across the length of rollers 71 and 74 cooperate withthe O-ring 67 passing around rollers 64, 70 and 73 to provide a guidesurface for the receptor sheet and the intermediate sheet between thefeed roller pairs 70, 71 and 73, 74.

The heat developer 88 comprises a drum 90 which is continuously rotated(clockwise as viewed in the drawing) during operation of the machine anda stationary heater 92 extending around a major portion of the peripheryof the drum 90. The heater 92 comprises an extruded aluminum shell withcylindrical heating elements extending parallel to the axis of the drumto provide sufficient heating to transfer the images from theintermediate sheet to the receptor paper during movement of thecomposite through the heat developer 88. The aluminum shell and thedeveloper drum 90 cooperate to transport an intermediate sheet and areceptor sheet in intimate contact therewith from the second pair ofreceptor-intermediate feed rollers 73 and 74 through the heat developer88.

At the exit from the heat developer 88 a second separator knife 94 issupported at the end of a pivotal arm 95 to normally direct sheetsleaving the heat developer 88 between the upper and lower receptorguides 98 and 99 and toward the front of the machine 10. A solenoid 96is connected to the pivotal arm 95 to move the second separator knife 94into the path of sheets leaving the heat developer 88. Actuation of thesolenoid 96 is timed with respect to the intermediate sheet leaving theheat developer 88 by means of a switch (not shoyvn) in the feed path tomove the second separator knife 94 into the path of the sheets leavingthe heat developer 88 as the leading edge of an intermediate sheetapproaches it. As the leading edge of the intermediate sheet contactsthe second separator knife 94 the solenoid 96 is deactivated and theseparator knife 94 diverts the intermediate sheet downward while thereceptor sheet 76 with visible images thereon is separated from theintermediate and continues along the normal path between the upper andlower receptor guides 98 and 99. A pair of receptor exit rollers 102 and103 are provided along a guide path between guides 98 and 99 to move thereceptor sheet to the front of the machine 10 where it may then beremoved through a suitable access opening.

Two pairs of rollers 105, 106 and 108, 109 are positioned to feed thediverted intermediate sheet toward the back of the machine 10 to a wastearea. A plurality of O-rings 107 extend around the upper two rollers 105and 108 and a second set of O-rings 110 extend around the lower rollers106 and 109 to define a guide surface between the roller pairs 105, 106and 108, 109.

In use, a supply roll of intermediate sheet material 34 is mounted onthe support 32 and the free end portion of the supply strip is threadedbetween the intermediate feed rollers 36 and 37 to position the leadingedge of the intermediate supply strip in line with the cutter knife 41.A stack of receptor sheets 76 is placed in the tray 77 and the tray endwall 80 is moved against the end of the stack of receptor sheets 76. Anon button (not shown) on the front of the machine is pushed to startrotation of the exposure drum 14, the heat developer drum 90 and thecontinuously rotating rollers and to activate the developer heater 92.When the heat developer 88 has reached the appropriate temperature theelectromagnet 47 at the front of the machine lifts the gate to permitinsertion of an original document 15. An original document 15 ismanually moved along the original guide 43 until it reaches theinsertion roller 52 which feeds the original document 15 to the originaldocument feed rollers 49 and and holds it against them until the copycycle is initiated.

The operator then presses a copybutton (not shown) on the front of themachine to start the copy cycle. The exposure lamp 16 is activated andan electric clutch (not shown) causes the intermediate feed rollers 36and 37 and the original document feed rollers 49 and 50 to rotatethereby moving both the original document 15 and the free end of theintennediate supply strip simultaneously toward the exposure idlerroller 54. Because of the difierence in path lengths the intermediatesupply strip reaches the juncture of the intermediate and original feedpaths before the original document 15 and leads the original document.The intermediate and the original document in intimate contact therewiththen move between the idler roller 54 and the exposure drum l4 andbetween the semireflecting sheet 22 and the supporting surface of theexposure drum 14.

By proper selection of the length of the receptor sheets 76 or byproperly setting a selector dial, when a sufficient length of theintermediate sheet material 34 has been fed to at least match thetrailing edge of the original document, the cutter knife 41 moves acrossthe intermediate feed path to sever a sheet of the intermediate material34 from the supply strip. At the same time the drive to the intermediatefeed rollers 36 and 37 and to the original document feed rollers 49 and50 is deactivated and the intermediate sheet and the original document15 in intimate contact therewith are transported by the supportingsurface of the exposure drum 14 and the semi-reflecting sheet 22 pastthe exposure lamp 16 to expose the inter-mediate.

As the intermediate sheet approaches the first separator knife 56 thesolenoid 58 is activated to move the first separator knife 56 into thepath of the intermediate sheet. When the leading edge of theintermediate sheet has been diverted downward the solenoid 58 isdeactivated to separate the original document which continues along thenormal path between the original exit guides 60 and 61 toward the frontof the machine where it may be removed.

The diverted intermediate sheet is fed downward by feed rollers 63 and64 between the inclined guide 66 and the O-rings 67. As the intermediatesheet is fed downard the receptor feed wheel 82 is actuated to feed theuppermost receptor sheet 76 into inu'mate contact with the exposedintermediate sheet with the leading edge of the intermediate sheetleading the corresponding edge of the receptor sheet 76. Theintermediate sheet and receptor sheet are then fed to the heat developer88 by the two pairs of feed rollers 70, 71 and 73, 74 between the guidesdefined by the O-rings 67 and 75. The heat developer drum 90 thentransports the intermediate and the receptor sheet in intimate contacttherewith between its periphery and the shell of the heater 92 wherevisible images are produced on the receptor sheet 76.

As the intermediate sheet approaches the second separator knife 94 thesolenoid 96 is activated and moves the second separator knife 94 intothe path of the intermediate. When the leading edge of the intermediatesheet has been diverted the solenoid 96 is deactivated and moves theseparator knife 94 to separate the receptor sheet which continues alongthe normal path between the receptor guides 98 and 99. The receptor exitrollers 102 and 103 then move the imaged receptor sheet to the front ofthe machine for removal. The diverted intermediate sheet is fed by thepairs of discard rollers 105, 106 and 108, 109 and it is guided by theO-rings 107 and 110 to a disposal area at the back of the machine 10.

Having thus described the present invention, What is claimed is:

1. In a copying machine having exposure means for reflex exposure of alight-sensitive intermediate sheet material and an original document,including a light source and a supporting surface, the improvementcomprising:

first feed means for transporting an original document and anintermediate sheet into intimate contact with the leading edge of theintermediate sheet extending beyond the leading edge of the originaldocument to produce an intermediate sheet-original document combination,and

second feed means for transporting a said intermediate sheet-originaldocument combination into position for reflex exposure with the originaldocument contacting said supporting surface and the intermediate sheetbetween the original document and said light source and leading theoriginal document, said second feed means including a semireflectingsurface between said light source and said supporting surface formed andsupported to cooperate with said supporting surface to transport anintermediate sheet and an original document in intimate contacttherewith between said surfaces upon relative movement between saidsurfaces, means for creating a generally uniform contact pressurebetween said supporting surface and said semi-reflecting surface toengage the leading edge of the intermediate sheet in a said intermediatesheet-original document combination and to press a said combinationtogether to maintain the leading edge relationship in a saidcombination, and means for moving said supporting surface relative tosaid semi-reflecting surface to frictionally drive a said intermediatesheet-original document combination into said position for reflexexposure.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said semi-reflecting surface comprisesa flexible sheet material.

3. The machine of claim 2 wherein said supporting surface comprises theperipheral surface of a drum and wherein said means for causing relativemovement between said supporting surface and said semi-reflectingsurface includes means for rotating said drum about its axis.

4. The machine of claim 1 including means for separating the originaldocument from the intermediate sheet after reflex exposure of theintermediate sheet by deflecting the leading edge of the intermediatesheet out of the path along which it is transported by said feed means.

5. The machine of claim 1 including means for supporting an elongatedsupply strip of the light-sensitive intermediate sheet material, whereinsaid feed means include means for transporting an original document anda free end portion of an intermediate supply strip into intimate contactwith the leading edge of the free end portion of the intermediate supplystrip extending beyond the leading edge of the original document, andincluding means for severing the free end portion of the intermediatesupply strip from the supply after a predetermined length has been fedto provide an intermediate sheet.

6. A copying machine comprising:

exposure means for reflex exposure of a light-sensitive intermediatesheet material and an original document, including a light source and asupporting surface,

means for supporting an elongate supply strip of the intermediate sheetmaterial,

first feed means for transporting an original document and a free endportion of the intermediate supply strip into intimate contact with theleading edge of the free end portion of the intermediate supply stripextending beyond the leading edge of the original document to produce anintermediate sheet-original document combination,

means for severing the free end portion of the intermediate supply stripfrom the supply after a predetermined length has been fed by said firstfeed means to provide an intermediate sheet, second feed means fortransporting a said intermediate sheet-original document combinationinto position for reflex exposure with the original document contactingsaid supporting surface and the intermediate sheet positioned betweenthe original document and said light source and leading the originaldocument, said second feed means including a semi-reflecting surfacebetween said light source and said supporting surface formed tocooperate with said supporting surface to transport an intermediatesheet and an original document in intimate contact therewith betweensaid surface upon relative movement between said surfaces, means forcreating a generally uniform contact pressure between said supportingsurface and said semi-reflecting surface to engage the leading edge ofthe intermediate sheet in a said intermediate sheet-original documentcombination and to press a said combination together to maintain theleading edge relationship in a said combination, and means for movingsaid supporting surface relative to said semi-reflecting surface tofrictionally drive a said intermediate sheet-original documentcombination into said position for reflex exposure,

third feed means for transporting an original document and an exposedintermediate sheet from said reflex exposure position,

first separating means for separating an original document from a saidexposed intermediate sheet in intimate contact therewith,

fourth feed means for transporting an exposed intermediate sheet and acopy-sheet into intimate contact with the leading edge of theintermediate sheet extending beyond the leading edge of the copy-sheet,

heating means for imaging a copy-sheet in contact with an exposedintermediate sheet,

fifth feed means for transporting an exposed intermediate sheet and acopy-sheet in intimate contact therewith past said heating means toimage the copy-sheet, and

second separating means for separating an exposed intermediate sheetfrom an image copy-sheet in intimate contact therewith.

7. The machine of claim 6 wherein said semi-reflecting surface comprisesa flexible sheet material.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein said supporting surface comprises theperipheral surface of a drum and wherein said means for causing relativemovement between said supporting surface and said semi-reflectingsurface includes means for rotating said drum about its axis.

9. The machine of claim 6 wherein said first and second separating meanseach include means for deflecting said intermediate sheet out of thepath along with it is transported by said third and fifth feed meansrespectively by engaging and deflecting the portion of the leading edgeof the intermediate sheet that extends beyond the original document andthe copy-sheet respectively.

1. In a copying machine having exposure means for reflex exposure of alight-sensitive intermediate sheet material and an original document,including a light source and a supporting surface, the improvementcomprising: first feed means for transporting an original document andan intermediate sheet into intimate contact with the leading edge of theintermediate sheet extending beyond the leading edge of the originaldocument to produce an intermediate sheet-original document combination,and second feed means for transporting a said intermediate sheetoriginaldocument combination into position for reflex exposure with the originaldocument contacting said supporting surface and the intermediate sheetbetween the original document and said light source and leading theoriginal document, said second feed means including a semi-reflectingsurface between said light source and said supporting surface formed andsupported to cooperate with said supporting surface to transport anintermediate sheet and an original document in intimate contacttherewith between said surfaces upon relative movement between saidsurfaces, means for creating a generally uniform contact pressurebetween said supporting surface and said semi-reflecting surface toengage the leading edge of the intermediate sheet in a said intermediatesheet-original document combination and to press a said combinationtogether to maintain the leading edge relationship in a saidcombination, and means for moving said supporting surface relative tosaid semi-reflecting surface to frictionally drive a said intermediatesheet-original document combination into said position for reflexexposure.
 2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said semi-reflecting surfacecomprises a flexible sheet material.
 3. The machine of claim 2 whereinsaid supporting surface comprises the peripheral surface of a drum andwherein said means for causing relative movement between said supportingsurface and said semi-reflecting surface includes means for rotatingsaid drum about its axis.
 4. The machine of claim 1 including means forseparating the original document from the intermediate sheet afterreflex exposure of the intermediate sheet by deflecting the leading edgeof the intermediate sheet out of the path along which it is transportedby said feed means.
 5. The machine of claim 1 including means forsupporting an elongate supply strip of the light-sensitive intermediatesheet material, wherein said feed means include means for transportingan original document and a free end portion of an intermediate supplystrip into intimate contact with the leading edge of the free endportion of the intermediate supply strip extending beyond the leadingedge of the original document, and including means for severing the freeend portion of the intermediate supply strip from the supply after apredetermined length has been fed to provide an intermediate sheet.
 6. Acopying machine comprising: exposure means for reflex exposure of alight-sensitive intermediate sheet material and an original document,including a light source and a supporting surface, means for supportingan elongate supply strip of the intermediate sheet material, first feedmeans for transporting an original document and a free end portion ofthe intermediate supply strip into intimate contact with the leadingedge of the free end portion of the intermediate supply strip extendingbeyond the leading edge of the original document to produce anintermediate sheet-original document combination, means for severing thefree end portion of the intermediate supply strip from the supply aftera predetermined length has been fed by said first feed means to providean intermediate sheet, second feed means for transporting a saidintermediate sheet-original document combination into position forreflex exposure with the original document contacting said supportingsurface and the intermediate sheet positioned between the originaldocument and said light source and leading the original document, saidsecond feed means includIng a semi-reflecting surface between said lightsource and said supporting surface formed to cooperate with saidsupporting surface to transport an intermediate sheet and an originaldocument in intimate contact therewith between said surfaces uponrelative movement between said surfaces, means for creating a generallyuniform contact pressure between said supporting surface and saidsemi-reflecting surface to engage the leading edge of the intermediatesheet in a said intermediate sheet-original document combination and topress a said combination together to maintain the leading edgerelationship in a said combination, and means for moving said supportingsurface relative to said semi-reflecting surface to frictionally drive asaid intermediate sheet-original document combination into said positionfor reflex exposure, third feed means for transporting an originaldocument and an exposed intermediate sheet from said reflex exposureposition, first separating means for separating an original documentfrom a said exposed intermediate sheet in intimate contact therewith,fourth feed means for transporting an exposed intermediate sheet and acopy-sheet into intimate contact with the leading edge of theintermediate sheet extending beyond the leading edge of the copy-sheet,heating means for imaging a copy-sheet in contact with an exposedintermediate sheet, fifth feed means for transporting an exposedintermediate sheet and a copy-sheet in intimate contact therewith pastsaid heating means to image the copy-sheet, and second separating meansfor separating an exposed intermediate sheet from an image copy-sheet inintimate contact therewith.
 7. The machine of claim 6 wherein saidsemi-reflecting surface comprises a flexible sheet material.
 8. Themachine of claim 7 wherein said supporting surface comprises theperipheral surface of a drum and wherein said means for causing relativemovement between said supporting surface and said semi-reflectingsurface includes means for rotating said drum about its axis.
 9. Themachine of claim 6 wherein said first and second separating means eachinclude means for deflecting said intermediate sheet out of the pathalong which it is transported by said third and fifth feed meansrespectively by engaging and deflecting the portion of the leading edgeof the intermediate sheet that extends beyond the original document andthe copy-sheet respectively.